Eventually, he landed in a home with a family praised for taking in some 39 foster kids over the years.

The abuse started the very first day.

“My life was subject to whatever choices they decided to make,” he said. “They were trying to tell you, you were nothing … it’s true for a lot of children in America today who wake up and they’re wondering: is today the day that I’m going to die.”

Pemberton would spend 13 years tormented in that same foster home.

He wrote a book about his story of survival, which is a now movie meant to inspire others to continue to fight back and break free.

.@Boston25News found former foster kids living on the street. States closed their cases while they were missing. Our yearlong investigation airs Wednesday. We want to hear your story – good or bad. What was foster care like for you? Use #forgottenkids to join the discussion pic.twitter.com/JGEVEWFyfe